Exciting News!

Day 2 of bed rest has turned out to be a pretty exciting day. I went in for my marathon appointment today at the doctor and came home with lots of information. So here it goes:

1. Baby M is measuring in the 77th percentile at 5 lbs 12 oz! We have a big boy on our hands.

2. He seems to have a big belly and short legs...hmmm....

3. He's growing well and the doc was pleased with all of his measurements

4. My blood pressure was at an all time low! Rock that!

And for the most exciting part... barring any emergencies, we are scheduled to be induced November 7 or 8 (depending on the hospital's availability). It's so surreal to think that in 3 weeks our little man will be here!

The ultrasound tech had just received a new machine today and asked if I'd be her guinea pig. Um okay!  So I got an extra long look at him and she took some pretty cool 3D shots. Here's one of him kind of smiling:

He still has the smushy nose similar to mine as a newborn. I'm so excited to see what he looks like in person!

The doctor also clarified a little bit about my bed rest restrictions. She said she wanted me to walk around and not be a couch potato, but that I should not be doing anything strenuous or that requires a lot of exertion. The goal of bed rest right now is to keep calm and relaxed so my blood pressure remains low on the medication I am taking.

So.... when I got home I felt a wave of anxious energy come upon me and what did I do?? I baked. I found this recipe online yesterday as I was bored at home and it looked delicious. The cookies are currently in the oven so I don't have pictures yet, but I'm pretty sure they'll be awesome.

I guess the countdown is on!

Rose and Thorn

A friend introduced me and our group of girls to this game many years ago. Every time we get together, we share the "Rose" and "Thorn" of our day (the good and bad). It became a way for us to quickly check in with each other, but also an opportunity to reflect on our own days and how lucky we really all are to be healthy and happy in our day to day lives.

So today, I will share the Rose and Thorn of my weekend:

We'll start with the thorn because I always like to end on a sweet note :)

I received a call from my doctor on Thursday evening that I needed to come into the office on Friday because some labwork came back with abnormalities that were concerning. Of course, I began to read online and slightly panic (I even packed my hospital bag!) and by Friday afternoon when the doctor's appointment arrived, my fears had been realized -- I have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. This condition is why the doctors have been monitoring my blood pressure so closely. It can be dangerous, but my case is mild as of now. Nevertheless, I have been put on bed rest and have to stop working. Sounds fun, right? I was obviously an emotional wreck on Friday, but lucky for me Candy was coming in town anyway and she and Allie arrived Friday evening with some good humor, Mexican food and a lot of love. By Saturday morning, I felt I had processed the information and was feeling a lot better emotionally. So, while my thorn certainly hurt this weekend, it's not the end of the world, and my focus now is on keeping this little guy cooking as long as I can!


Without a doubt, the Rose of my weekend was the most perfect Baby Shower that my sisters, Adrienne and Sara hosted for me yesterday. My doctor gave me the okay to attend the shower given I stay seated, and let me tell you, my sisters barely let me scratch my foot without their help. The shower couldn't have come at a better time. Unlike a typical Baby Shower, this one was a "Pamper the Mom" shower and we got manicures and chair massages and everyone showed up in their comfy spa clothes. It was a day of pampering, friends and relaxation... truly everything I needed. Thank you to my wonderful hostesses for making me feel so special and loved.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Me with all the hostesses!

The beautiful spa flowers and yummy grub!

Everyone decorated bibs and onesies!

They also wrote funny messages on diapers!

We had a very special visitor

Two preggos

Proof for Rick that I was seated the whole time! :)

And for a little silver lining: at least I have plenty of time on my hands to write thank you notes, right?

Never a Dull Moment

Well, here's the update from yesterday's doctor's appointment:

1. Baby M weighs about 4 lbs 10 oz according to the ultrasound tech... a bit above average, but we're pretty sure it's all muscle :)

2. He has hair! The tech could see it on the screen which was really cool. I have always wanted a baby with lots of hair, so I'm hoping he wasn't tricking us and that he comes out ready for me to tease his locks Steel Magnolias style!

3. Baby M is perfectly healthy. He's growing perfectly and very comfortable... but he's one stubborn fella. He had his hands covering his face the whole time so we couldn't get a good picture of his cuteness.

4. My BP was really high and the monitors were picking up some regular contractions, so I was sent to be monitored at the hospital for a few hours. All the blood work came back normal, which is great and I was given some directions for what to do this week until I need to go back to the doc on Monday for a follow up. The doctors sent me home last night with simple instructions and no alarming looks on their faces so I'm feeling pretty confident that they have this under control. She did say to expect that I'll be induced early, but we want to keep him cooking for as long as possible, so I've booked a massage for Sunday and I'm thinking that should help :)

That's about it for now... keep sending your zen vibes!!

A Work in Progress

This was a big baby weekend. Huge.

Our nursery furniture was delivered on Saturday and the minute the delivery gentleman left, I went to town on that room. I organized clothes and put them away. I unpacked bags that we have stuffed in the closet for months and ignored. Car seat is installed and Pack n Play is set up in our bedroom. Crazy? Maybe... but I feel a million times better knowing if this little guy decides to come early, my house is somewhat prepared and ready... even if I'm not.

The nursery is by no means ready, and still needs a lot of work, but here's a sneak peek at what we got accomplished this weekend:

View looking in from hallway

View looking out into hallway (and subsequently our bedroom...oops)

The baby madness didn't end yesterday. Today we had our all day childbirth class at the hospital which was information overload to say the least. We got a tour of the hospital along with a lot of information about what to expect from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave there. I'm glad we went, but my head is spinning.

We have a big doctor's appointment tomorrow. We'll get to see the little guy on an ultrasound and check out how he's coping with my BP issues. I think both Rick and I will feel a whole lot better once we get some more answers to our questions and information about what we can expect with this little blip in the road.

Stay tuned for an update!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I love baking with pumpkin and I wait every Fall until it's cool enough to whip out the orange stuff and put it in whatever I possibly can. If there's one recipe I'm known for, this is it. A few years ago, I came across this gem of a recipe, and ever since, pumpkins have never been looked at quite the same among our friends and family.


A couple days ago, Adrienne told me she read an article that said there was a pumpkin shortage and that canned pumpkin would be hard to come by this season. This happened last year, and I remember sending Rick all over town (literally) to find me cans of pumpkin. While at the grocery store yesterday, I noticed there was no pumpkin and slightly panicked. So, I learned my lesson from last year, and today after school I went to Target and bought their entire stock of canned pumpkin that was left on the shelves... which wasn't much!

The lady at the check-out counter looked at my belly, then asked if I was craving pumpkin.


I offered to make dessert for Rosh Hashanah dinner on Wednesday, so I came home today to make the first batch of whoopie goodness of the season. The house smells of the holidays, my tummy is aching from tasting too much frosting, and Maizey is currently licking all the spillage off the floor for me. I'd say it was a successful start to pumpkin season! 

I thought I'd share the recipe, but am a bit hesitant because now you will all realize how simple it really is. Nevertheless, here it goes: 

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, 1 stick melted, 1/2 stick softened
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
• 1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon plus 2 pinches salt
• 1-2/3 cups flour
• 4 ounces cream cheese, chilled
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar 

 

Directions:

1.     Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2.     In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the baking powder, the baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour.

3.     Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop 12 generous mounds of batter, spaced evenly, onto each baking sheet. Bake until springy to the touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. 

I use a regular spoon to dollop the batter onto the baking sheets. I like the organic look of the cakes being uneven and not perfect.

They should be slightly golden when coming out of the oven.

4.     Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter with the cream cheese. Add the confectioners' sugar and the remaining 2 pinches salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; mix on low speed until blended, then beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. 

Who doesn't like fresh cream cheese frosting??

5.     Spread the flat side of 12 cakes with the cream cheese frosting. Top each with another cake.

 

The Final Product: 

 

I always make a double batch. One batch is never enough... plus, if Rick and Jigar don't get to eat leftover icing out of a bowl then I usually get grumpy looks and comments from them. Best to avoid grumpy, hungry men. 

Oh, and if anyone in Chicago finds a store that's carrying canned pumpkin... let me know, or better, buy me their stock and I'll bake you some whoopies! 

This Zen Thing is Working!

This weekend has been blissful. A combination of getting things done, pampering and celebrating. On Friday night, I got to help celebrate this young lady with an impromptu pseudo-bachelorette dinner:

I love those nights when the girls can just get together to eat, drink and be merry. No drama, no chaos... just smiles and laughter filling up a room. We had a blast celebrating Taylor's last weekend of singlehood... and next weekend we'll celebrate her as a beautiful bride!

Then Saturday came. Oh Saturday, how I love thee. The day started early with a wake up call from our new cleaning lady who came to make all my dreams come true. I swear my blood pressure dropped by the hour that she was here. She cleaned every crevice I've been trying to reach for the last couple months but wasn't able to. She put my house back in order, and I am oh-so-grateful to have her in my life!

After running a few hours worth of errands Allie and I met up for a spa afternoon at my new favorite place in Chicago. Seriously it's a mecca, and if you haven't been... you need to go. It was by far the best massage I've ever had... and I've had my share of massages! The table had a hole cut out so I could lay on my stomach which felt so good! Haven't done that in months. We left there feeling like Jell-o and then met up for dinner and a movie later on in the evening. It was a great evening of sister time and a decent chick flick that made Allie weep. Yup, that's right... I said Allie, not me! Do I get a gold star for making it through a movie without crying!?

Today has also started early (thanks, Maizey) but I have a list of items that need to be checked off. Hope your weekend has been just as heavenly :)

Pregnancy Positives

The more and more I talk to pregnant women and read message boards, the more I've come to realize that one of the unspoken symptoms of pregnancy is complaining! If it's not about peeing every hour, it's about swollen ankles or dry skin. If it's not about husbands who don't understand what it feels like to carry a person around all day it's about the woman at the grocery store who rudely stared at the big belly. While I'm sure I do plenty of my own complaining, I think it's important to also recognize the "plus" side of being 20+ pounds heavier, moodier than ever, and generally uncomfortable. So here's my take on the top ten reasons I'm enjoying pregnancy (other than the obvious one that I'm creating a life, yada yada yada):

10. I get to wear spandex as much as I want without feeling too casual or inappropriate.

9. I don't need pedicures as often because I can't see my feet anyway.

8. I can eat ice cream for dinner without feeling guilty.

7. My house seems to be cleaner because I get wiffs of every piece of dirt and dust with my superhuman sense of smell.

6. Rick gives really good back rubs and foot rubs.

5. People let me cut in line at the port-a-potty line while tailgaiting.

4. The look on Rick's face when he gets to feel the baby move. Melts my heart. Every time.

3. I've made new friends because we have something in common that no one else can quite understand until they experience it themselves.

2. I get spoiled with goodies like these:

Yes, Allie brought back a bag-o-Canadianess from her trip to Montreal last weekend. Kraft Dinner, Felix and Norton cookies and maple sugar candies!


1. But the number one reason I have enjoyed being pregnant so far is that I have quickly learned in the last 8 months that the little things in life just don't matter as much anymore. Growing a person really puts life in perspective, and I feel the most grounded and centered right now than I ever have. The stresses of teaching aren't so stressful, and people's comments and judgments don't seem to bring me to tears (though scenes from My Best Friend's Wedding still do). I can only hope that this feeling doesn't wither away once Baby M makes his arrival. Now, my waistline... that's a different story.